Movers & Shakers

Nikos Kardassis
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Jet Airways appoints new CEO

Jet Airways has appointed Nikos Kardassis as its new CEO, to replace Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, who resigned, effective October 15, 2009 to become CEO of UK-based carrier, bmi. It is a familiar role for Kardassis who was CEO of Jet Airways from 1994-96. During the last few years he has served as a senior executive at Merrill Lynch, leading and managing major bank business lines, but for the past 18 months, Kardassis has held the post of senior vice president of the Americas at Jet Airways and has worked as a senior advisor to the airline’s chairman on both finance and strategy measures.Meanwhile, Prock-Schauer is rumoured to be grooming bmi for sale.

ExecuJet Middle East hires ops director

Quintin Cairncross has recently joined ExecuJet ME as its operations director. He has industry experience from the South African Air Force, South African Airways and Emirates Airline. In addition, Cairncross holds TRE and Instructor ratings and has clocked more than 13,000 flight hours. As well as his new role with ExecuJet Middle East, he will continue to be group director of flight training and safety for the ExecuJet Aviation Group (EAG) worldwide.

Leading logistics company gets a new CEO

Warren Jacob has been appointed as chief executive officer of Dubai-based logistics company Transworld. The industry veteran, who has previously worked in management positions at Freight Systems in Dubai and Singapore, will be based at Transworld’s US$12.25 million logistics park in Jebel Ali Free Zone.

“Transworld has emerged as a leader in the Middle East logistics sector,” Jacob told Aviation Business. “My role will be to increase our engagement with our customers and partners, while creating products and services of true value, which will be industry specific and thus carving out a niche for our business.”

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Clement Au has been hired as Cathay Pacific’s country manager for the UAE and Oman. Au joined Cathay Pacific in 1998 in the engineering department. Since then, he has worked across a variety of departments including marketing, revenue management, customer information systems and the airline’s Canadian office.

His previous posting before the UAE was in the product department looking after in-flight entertainment programming and materials for Cathay Pacific and Dragonair. Au said he was looking forward to challenging and interesting times ahead.

Brewer joins Allegiant’s board

Montie Brewer, Air Canada’s former chief executive, has joined the board of the parent company of Las Vegas-based low-cost carrier, Allegiant Air. According to reports, Brewer’s appointment to the board of Allegiant Travel Company comes seven months after he unexpectedly resigned and was succeeded by Calin Rovinescu at the helm of the country’s largest carrier. Prior to joining Air Canada in 2002, Brewer served as senior vice president of planning at United Airlines.

EADS announces head of its US unit

European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co (EADS) has appointed General Electric Company’s Sean O’Keefe to head up its North American division, according to reports from the Associated Press. O’Keefe replaces the former CEO of EADS North America, Ralph Crosby. Crosby will remain as chairman and will oversee EADS’ role in the Air Force’s US$35 billion aerial refuelling competition. EADS North America is a division of the European aerospace and defence company.

A new face for Nigerian airline

Nigerian commercial airline, Arik Air has hired Jason Holt as managing director.

According to the airline’s website, Holt makes the move from Arik Air’s London office, where, for the past 18 months, he has worked as a consultant and advisor supporting the airline as it integrated its brand new Airbus A340-500 fleet into its operations.

Holt has extensive aviation industry experience from postings such as head of safety for Virgin Atlantic and COO at Saudi Arabia’s National Air Services. He has also worked for BMED Ltd, a British Airways’ franchise.